Receptacle for refrigerators



' H w. OHLHAVER RECEPTACLE FOR REFRIGERTORS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18. 1938 NW' 26 1940 H. w. OHLHAVER I RECEPTACLE FOR REFRIGERATORS y 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug.- 18, 1938 Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED sfr-Ares BECEPTACLE Foa nEFmGEnA'roas Homer W. Ohlhaver, River Forest, Ill., assignor to Marathon Paper Mills Company, Rothschild, A Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin l Application Angustia, weasel-iam. 225,640

solaires. (o1'.-22'0`20 This invention relates toreceptacles to be placed in refrigerators for holding articles therein.

More'speciiically this invention relates to receptacles for reinforcing and snugly supporting 5 paper cartons of predetermined contour within a refrigerator cabinet.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide light weight metal receptacles which are adaptedto be removably suspended or retained in l the usual refrigerator cabinets for receiving cartons of the samesize and complemental contour as the receptacles whereby the walls' of the cartons will be rigidly supported when the contents are scooped out or otherwise removed from the l cartons.

Another object of the invention vis to provide removable receptacles adapted to be placed in refrigerator cabinets,` the receptacles being adapted to snugly receive cartons of complemental contour and size and containing frozen ice cre'am or other comestibles which are to bevvdispensed-in small quantities at a time from the cartons while retained and supported in the receptacles. A

A further object of the invention is to provide receptacles adapted to be removably retained in refrigerator cabinets, the receptacles being so constructed as to have the same contour as paper cartons containing frozen ice cream or other comestibles which are placed in the receptacles Y3() so as to rigidly support the walls of the carton when frozen ice cream or other comestibles are dispensed therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide receptacles for snugly receiving cartons of complemental contour, the receptacles having slightly yieldable or springy walls for facilitating removal of the empty cartons therefrom.

'Ihe receptacle constructed according to this invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with a method disclosed in Cocks Patent No. 2,109,102, February 22, 1938, for packaging bulk ice cream and similar freezable comestibles in cartons of abnormally large size having, for example, a capacity of two gallons, the capacity thus being much greater than the usual pint and quart cartons now sold for individual serving. The cartons are made of comparatively thin cardboard stock so that they can be thrown away after being used. The cartons are preferably rectangular in shape whereby a great economy of space is secured in storing the ice cream in refrigerated dispensing cabinets used in stores, soda fountains and similar places where ice cream is dispensed from bulk containers.

When these rectangular cartons each having a capacity'of two gallons are employed, it is possible to 'place two such cartons in thesame space in -the refrigerator cabinet occupied by a round bulk ice 'cream' 'can now generally usedhaving a capacity of 21/2 gallons. `The great saving in 5 space is thus obvious for it is `possible using such cartons to increase the total product storage volume anywhere from 40% to 60% depending upon the particular cabinet adapted for such cartons.

Furthermore, by having a different flavor-*in yeach 10 rectangular carton the number of flavors which it is possible to have accessible is increased 100% or more in the'- types of cabinets in present day use.

In employing these abnormally large cartons 15 it is necessary to prevent distortion of the cartons by thepressure of the fluid when they are filled, or'on account of expansion of the ice cream or other comestibles during freezing which bulges or distorts the carton from its original shape. 20 Any suitable means may be used for this'purpose so that when the contents are frozen within the carton it will assume a-predetermined contour. Such cartonscan .therefore be readily inserted in the receptacles constructed according to this invention, and while so supported, ice cream or other comestibles can be dispensed from the cartons. f

The receptacles constructed according to this invention have the same contour as the cartons containing the frozen comestible and they arev adapted to be placed in refrigerating cabinets for dispensing the comestibles l from the cartons. These receptacles have rigid walls and serve to retain the carton and support the walls thereof when the ice cream or other frozen comestible is dispensed or scooped therefrom. The receptacles also rigidly retain the walls of the cartons and prevent puncture and collapse of the carton walls during dispensing. 'Ihe receptacle walls also serve to retain the Walls of the carton placed therein and prevents movement or displacement of the carton during the dispensing operation.

The details of construction 4of the receptacles utilized `for receiving the cartons having a predetermined contour and containing ice cream and other frozen comestibles will be apparent from the following description and annexed drawings, Whel'en- 4 Y 5o Figure 1 is a .sectional view of a refrigerator cabinet "containing the receptacles constructed according to Ythis invention for receiving cartons having ice cream or other frozen comestibles.

Figure 2 is a side view taken on lines 2-2 of M ing held in place by a suitable binder 62.

vplaced in a refrigerator cabinet.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of the receptacle illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred con-4' struction of the receptacle is illustrated in Figure 3. The receptacle is preferably made of three metal plates bent into suitable shape and welded together to form the complete receptacle.

Side wall I4, lateral flange portions I5 and I6, and a bottom flange portion il are formed from a single metal plate byfsuitably cutting and bending same. Portions i3 are integral with flange portions l5 and I6 respectively and are bent into contact with bottom'iiange ii vand welded thereto as shown in Figure 3. The upper edge portion of the plate is folded over to form a collar portion I'l. Portions of the collar are bent out and shaped to form integral spaced suspending means 2i for the receptacle.

Side wall i0, lateral flanges i5 and I6, and a bottom flange Il are similarly formed from a single metal plate. The two side walls I and il are joined together by a rigid partition i2 having longitudinal flanges i8 and I9 welded to the medial portion of the side walls. The partition i2 also has a lower ange portion 9 integral therewith welded to the bottom ange members ii integral with walls i0 and ii as shown in Figure 3. A perforation 20 is provided adjacent the upper edge of the partition i2 to receive a hook or other means for lifting the receptacle.

'I'he receptacle so constructed consists"of two adjacent compartments, the dimensions of which are so designed as to have the predetermined contour of cartons 50 which can be snugly received in each compartment as shown in Figure 4. If desired, a removable supporting plate 4I), as shown in Figures l and 2, may be supported by the lower fiange portions ii upon which the carton rests.

The receptacle is adapted to be removably positioned in a refrigerator cabinet as shown in Figure 1 which is of any suitable construction,

vand is provided with means to suitably suspend the receptacles. The cabinet consists of outer walls 56 reinforced by angle irons 65 and provided with insulation 63. Refrigerator units having refrigerator coils 6I are positioned within the inner walls of the cabinet, the coils be- The refrigerator cabinet'is closed with the usual covers 61.

The upper'portion of the cabinet is provided with collar members 60 having suspending hooks 30 which extend into the cabinet for receiving the suspending means 2| of the receptacles as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The space beneath the receptacles may be utilized for storing any desired articles. Access to the lower space of the cabinet is possible by simply manually lifting the 'receptacles out of the cabinet. :rimmed the cabinet may be so comZ structed as to hold two receptacles in superimposed relation.

The walls of the cartons 50 are rigidly supported by the walls of the receptacle thus facilitating the dispensing of the ice cream 55 or other frozen material in the cartons without breaking, tearing or distorting same during -the dispensing operation. The receptacle thus reinforces the walls of the carton when ice cream and the like is scooped out of the carton. Side walls l0 and il of the receptacle, together with their respective integral flange portions l5 and i6 being made of comparatively thin sheet metal, are slightly yieldable or springy as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4 when forced apart manually in the direction of the arrows, to permit removal of the cartons 50 placedwithin the compartments.

The construction `of the receptacle shown in Figure 3 provides two compartments for snugly receiving and supporting cartons of predetermined contour, with a rigid partition therebetween. If desired the partition may be slidable instead of integral with the receptacle. Receptacles may also be constructed having more than two vcompartments for receiving cartons. n

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of the receptacle construction having side walls 80, lateral ange portions 8i and bottom ange portions 82 formed from sheet metal. The upper edges of side Walls 80 are bent to provide ange portions 83 which are adapted to engage hooks 30 in the cabinet for supporting the receptacleA therein. Partition 84 is rigidly aflixed to side Walls 80 and provides two compartments in the receptacle which have a predetermined contour for snugly receiving and supporting cartons of the same predetermined complemental contour.

Figure 6 illustrates another modified construction of the receptacle having side walls 90, lateral flange portions 9i, a bottom 10 and lower side flanges 93' formed from suitable metal plates. The upper edges of side walls 90 are bent to provide ange portions 93 which are adapted to engage hooks 30 in the cabinet as shown in Figure 8 for supporting the receptacle. Slots 94 are provided adjacent the ange portion in which a lifting tool or other grasping means may be manually inserted for lifting the receptacle out of the cabinet. Ihis receptacle has a predetermined contour for snugly receiving andsupporting a carton of the same complemental contour. 'I'his receptacle construction may beformed 4from a single metal blank. If desired a. partition may be provided to divide the receptacle into compartments.

A further modification of the receptacle construction is illustrated in Figure 7, wherein the receptacle is made of a single metal blank bent and secured together so as to form side Walls 95,

lateral flange portion 96, a bottom 91 and lower side ange 99. This receptacle is adapted to be supported upon brackets 98 provided in a refrigvdisclosed in the different embodiments provides.

an eiiicient and simple means for supporting cartons of large size within a refrigerator cabinet.

I'he springy or slightly yieldable side walls of the receptacles permit a snug t of the cartons within the receptacles as any slight irregularities in the carton contour are thereby compensated for. The springy side walls also facilitate removal of the cartons from the receptacle as any ice formed between the carton and the walls of the receptacle formed by moisture freezing therebetween can be cracked apart by slightly springing the walls away from the adjacent carton walls. It will also be noted that the receptacle' construction provides open sides thereby facilitating removal of the empty cartons as well as the placing new cartons therein.

The details of the construction above disclosed constitute some exemplifications of the invention but they are not to be considered as restrictive of the novel features of the invention. Obviously many changes and variations are possible embodying the principles of the invention herein disclosed.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for reinforcing and snugly supporting cartons of predetermined contour within a refrigerator cabinet comprising two opposed side walls, opposed side and bottom anges integral with each of said side walls, said opposed side and bottom anges extending toward each other and terminating short and in spaced relation to each other, and a vertically positioned" connecting member constituting a separator plate `joining the said side walls at the medial region of same and forming the sole connecting means between said side walls, whereby said side walls are slightly yieldable to permit removal of cartons supported in said receptacle, said separator plate having longitudinal iiange portions joined to said side walls and forming compartments of predetermined contour for snugly receiving cartons of the 40 same contour as said compartments.

2. A receptacle for reinforcing and snugly supporting cartons of predetermined contour within a refrigerator cabinet comprising two opposed side walls, suspending means adjacent the upper edges of said side walls, opposed side and bottom iianges integral with each of said side walls, said opposed side and bottom iianges extending toward each other and terminating short and in spaced relation to each other, and a vertically positioned connecting member constituting a separator plate joining the said side walls at the medial region of same and forming the sole connecting means between said side walls, whereby said side walls are slightly yieldable to permit removal of cartons supported in said receptacle, said separator plate forming compartments of predetermined contour for snugly receiving cartons of the same contour as said compartments.

3. A receptacle for reinforcing and snugly supporting cartons of predetermined contour within a refrigerator cabinet comprising two opposed v side walls are slightly yieldable to permit removal of cartons supported in said receptacle, said separator plate forming compartments of predetermined contour for snugly receiving cartons of the same contour as said compartments.

HOMER W. OHLHAVER. 

